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Issues and Challenges in Judaism: Lesson 4.3

This document discusses issues and challenges in Judaism. It begins by introducing Judaism and its historical development. It then explores key terms related to Judaism. The document goes on to discuss the three main Jewish sects - Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism. It examines important issues in Judaism's history, including Zionism, antisemitism, and the Holocaust. It concludes by looking at challenges facing Judaism in the 21st century.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
222 views22 pages

Issues and Challenges in Judaism: Lesson 4.3

This document discusses issues and challenges in Judaism. It begins by introducing Judaism and its historical development. It then explores key terms related to Judaism. The document goes on to discuss the three main Jewish sects - Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism. It examines important issues in Judaism's history, including Zionism, antisemitism, and the Holocaust. It concludes by looking at challenges facing Judaism in the 21st century.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit 4: Judaism 
 
Lesson 4.3 
Issues and Challenges in Judaism 
 
Contents 
Introduction 1 

Learning Objectives 2 

Explore 2 

Discover 5 
Jewish Sects 6 
Orthodox Judaism 6 
Conservative Judaism 7 
Reform Judaism 9 
Issues in Judaism 10 
Zionism 11 
Antisemitism 12 
Holocaust 13 
Judaism in 21st Century 14 

Wrap-Up 17 

Try This! 18 

Challenge Yourself 18 

Reflect on This 20 

Bibliography 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

Lesson 4.3 

Issues and Challenges in Judaism 


 

  Introduction 
Judaism  is  a  religion  that  outstandingly  influences  the  world.  Though  the  number  of 
believers  of  this  religion  is  just  below  1%  of  the  entire  global  population,  Jewish  traditions 
and  customs  can  be  observed  in  many  modern  practices  of  different  societies,  most 
especially  in  Europe  and  America.  This  religion  plays  a vital role in the contemporary life of 
many of the world’s citizens.   
 
The  historical  development  of  Judaism  is  one  of  the  most  drastic,  if  not  the  most,  in  all  of 
the  current  major  religions  of  the  world.  From  its  beginning,  the  first  followers  of the faith 
have  been  battered  with  chaos  and  war.  The  constant  struggles  in  West  Asia  formed  the 
traditions  and  beliefs  of  the  people;  hence,  Jews  became  resilient  to  the  difficulties  of  the 
world.  In  recent  centuries,  Judaism  has  had  its  fair  share  of  issues  and  challenges  that 
resulted in war and international political conflicts.  
 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  1 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
 
 

  Learning Objectives  DepEd Learning Competency 


At the end of this lesson, you should be able to 
In this lesson, you should be able to do the  discuss current challenges and issues in Judaism. 
following: 
● Identify and differentiate the 
Jewish sects.   
● Examine the historical key issues 
of Judaism that affect its beliefs, 
traditions, and its followers. 
● Explain the current issues and 
challenges faced by 21st-century 
Jews. 

 Explore       
  Word Connect     10 minutes 

Instructions 
1. Identify  the  mystery  term  on  each  item  by  referring  to  the  descriptions  or  picture 
clues.  
2. Be reminded that the words are all related to Judaism.  
 

a.  He was an important Jewish prophet.   


In Hebrew, His name means "to draw 
out," which reflects what he did for 
__ O __ __ S 
the ancient Jews when he liberated   
them from Egyptian slavery. 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  2 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

b.  
 
 
__ T __ __ __ F 
D __ V __ __ 

 
 
 
 
 
     
c.   A religious leader which literally 
means “my master.”  __ A __ B __  
 
 
 
   
d.    
An essential Jewish festival that 
 
originated during the captivity of  F __ A __ T OF   
ancient Jews in Egypt.   __ __ S S __ __ _ 
 
   
e. 
 
 
 
__ O __ __ H 
 

 
 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  3 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
Guide Questions 
 
1. Choose  one  word  from  the  activity  and  explain  the  significance  of  the  term  to 
Judaism. 
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2. How  important  are  these  symbols  to  the  Jews?  Provide  an  example  wherein  Jews 
from the past showed the importance of their faith. 
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

3. Which  terms  are  related  to  other  world  religions?  Identify  one  and  cite  the 
connection of this Jewish term to these religions.  
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  4 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

  Discover 
 

Judaism  is  a  dynamic  religion  that  continuously   


Words to Remember 
progresses  through  time.  Since  the  time of the ancient 
● chosen people — 
Jews,  their  faith  has  been  influenced  by  various 
people selected by 
cultures  and  political  powers.  Assimilation  is  one  of 
God among the 
the  critical  problems  of  the  people,  but  the  identity  of 
world’s many nations 
being  the  “chosen  people”  kept  the  Jews  and  the 
● assimilation — 
tradition intact.  
integration of a race 
 
or group of culturally 
While  Jewish  communities  have  successfully  navigated 
linked people to 
the  uncertain  waters  of  modernity  to  remain  relevant 
other cultures, 
in  this  day  and  age,  the  religion  continuously  faces 
resulting in the 
issues  and  challenges  even  today.  Jews,  like  in  the 
erasure of the race’s 
olden  times,  have  been  scattered  all  through  the 
tradition, customs, 
world.  This  situation  both  positively  and  negatively 
and culture. 
influences religion.  
● secularism — 
 
removal of religious 
What  are  the  past  and  current  practice, tradition, 
  issues  of  Judaism  that  views, and customs 
from society. 
continuously shape the religion?  

 
 
 

Jewish Sects 
Because  of  the  political  instability  in  West  Asia,  where  the  Promised  Land  is  supposedly 
found,  many  Jews  emigrated  to  seek  better  living  conditions.  They  created  pockets  of 
communities  in  many  nations  to  prevent  assimilation  into  the  nation’s  culture.  However, 
secularism  is  inevitable  to  many  of  these  communities,  which  led  to  the  development  of 
unique  and  different  Jewish  practices.  In  particular,  this led to varying interpretations of the 
practice of Judaism that resulted in other sects of the religion today.  

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  5 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
Orthodox Judaism 
Orthodox  Judaism  is  a  group  within  Judaism  that  strictly  adheres  to  the  written  and  oral 
law  of  religion.  Those  who  follow  this  Jewish  tradition  believe  both  of  these  laws  were 
revealed  divinely  by  God.  Changes  and  alterations  to  the  laws  are  prohibited.  In  the  11th 
and  12th  century  CE,  Jewish  scholars  began to codify or collect the oral laws and write them 
to  guide  the  religion.  The  collection  of  these  laws  is  called  Halacha.  The  importance  of this 
written law for each sect of Judaism is the distinction among them. 
 

 
Fig. 1. Orthodox Jews adhere to religious laws, even to the type of clothing they wear 
 
The  sect  was  formed  in  1851  to  emphasize  that Judaism should always be following its laws 
strictly.  It  was the answer to the changes of the reform movement that led to the secularism 
of  the  religion.  It  is  in  Europe  that  the  first  followers  of  this  Jewish  sect  appeared.  Samson 
Raphael  Hirsch,  a  German  intellectual,  and  Moses  Sofer, a Hungarian rabbi, were believed 
to  be  the  intellectual  forefathers  of  the  sect.  Both  are  influential  in  combating  the  wrong 
interpretation of reformism in Europe hence, resulting in the sect’s origin.  
 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  6 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

 
Figs. 2 and 3. The intellectual forefathers of Orthodox Judaism; Rabbi Samson Raphael 
Hirsch (left) and Rabbi Moses Sofer (right). 
 
One  of  the  key  principles  of  Orthodox  Judaism  is  the  interaction  of  religion  in  the  modern 
world.  The  sect  safeguards  the  faith  from  the  danger  of  assimilation  to  modern  culture. 
There  is  strict  compliance  to  religious  laws  required  from its members. One of the essential 
elements  of  the  sect  is  its  dress  code.  Orthodox  Jews  are  urged  to  follow  the  laws  found in 
Talmud  and  Halacha.  In  addition,  strict  observance of the sabbath is being practiced among 
its followers.  
 
Conservative Judaism 
Conservative  Judaism  (also  called  Masorti  Judaism)  is  a  Jewish  sect  that  believes  in  the 
authenticity  of  written  law  or  the  Talmud  as God's message to the people. Still, it puts some 
reservation  in  the  divine  origin  of  the  oral  law  and  the  Halacha.  The  call  for  modernity  is 
being  considered  in  this  sect,  but  there  is  caution  in  accepting  many  cultural  aspects  of 
modern  society  that  are  not  Jewish.  It  is  regarded  as  the  middle  ground  between  the 
Orthodox and Reform Liberal sects of Judaism.  
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  7 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

 
Fig. 4. Conservative Judaism promotes the active participation of women 
in reading and studying the Torah. 
 
In  the  1850s,  German  rabbi  Zacharias  Frankel  claimed  that  the  written  law  and  Halacha 
could  be  studied  through  modern  sciences  such  as  anthropology,  sociology,  and  history. 
According  to  Frankel,  letters  of  these  sacred  texts  are  open  to  interpretation  through  the 
Rabbinic  tradition  and  the  tool  of  science.  It  can,  thus,  provide  a  deeper  understanding  of 
Judaism.  The emigration of Orthodox Jews from Europe paved the way to furthering the sect 
that  wished  to  adhere  to  the  strict  religious  law  and  respecting  the  new  world's  prevalent 
culture.  At  present,  Masorti  Judaism  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  sects  of  Judaism  in  the 
United States. 
 
Masorti  Judaism,  unlike  the  Orthodox  sect,  is  not  afraid  of  the  changes  of  modern  times. 
Though  Jewish  traditions  are  the  primary  tool  in  interpreting  the  specific  religious  debate, 
the  sect  is  not  afraid  to  employ  modern  science  in  its  teachings,  which  Orthodox  Jews 
gravely frown upon.  
 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  8 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
Reform Judaism 
Reform Judaism is a sect of the Jewish religion that completely abandoned many traditional 
practices  of  the  faith  and  embraced  the  many  changes  in  society.  The  central  principles  of 
the  sect  are  the  importance  of  God,  Talmud,  and  Israel,  but  change  is  an  inevitable 
phenomenon.  To  survive,  reformists  tend  to  value  adaptability  to  remain  relevant  to 
modern times.  
 

 
Fig. 5. A conference of liberal Reformist Jews 
 
In  the  17th  and  18th  centuries,  many  philosophers,  scientists,  and  other  prominent 
intellectual  figures  such  as  Rene  Descartes,  Immanuel  Kant,  and  Thomas  Hobbes,  were 
preoccupied  with  putting  humanity  at  the  center  of  academic  discussions.  This  paradigm 
shift  has  been  warranted  by  the  long  years  of  scholastic  and  theological  intellectualism  in 
Europe.  The  enlightenment  spilled  over  to  the  different  aspects  of  society,  even  in  the 
world's  major  religions.  The  period  has  been  preceded  by  the  Jewish  Emancipation  that 
clamored  for  a  more  dynamic  and  unorthodox  approach  to  religious  practice.  It resulted in 
many  Jews  abandoning numerous century-old traditions and embraced the signs of time for 
a change to adapt to the ongoing social revolution in Europe.  
 
 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  9 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
One  of the key aspects of Reform Judaism is the acceptance of inter-faith marriages that has 
been  prohibited  in both Conservative and Orthodox Judaism. Furthermore, the relaxation of 
adhering  to  other  religious  laws  is  encouraged,  such  as  the  observance  of  the  sabbath, 
dress code, and other essential laws on worship and rituals.  
 

Check Your Progress 


Give  one  similarity  and  difference  among  Orthodox,  Conservative, 
 
and Reform Judaism. 
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________  

 
Issues in Judaism 
Judaism  has  been  challenged  with  many  societal  encounters  that  blessed  and  cursed  the 
religion.  Similar  to  the  experience  of  early  Jews  as  narrated  in  the  Torah,  both  the  old  and 
modern  Jews  dealt  with  many  experiences  in  persecution,  prosperity,  death,  and  life.  In 
recent  centuries,  the  Jews  have  been  a  dynamic  group  that  shaped  the  political  and 
international arena for diplomacy and conflict resolution.  
 

 
Fig. 6. The Holy Mountain of Zion according to religious texts 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  10 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
Zionism 
Zionism  is  a  nationalist  movement  that  called  for  creating  the  State  of  Israel  based  on  the 
accounts  in  the  Torah.  Before  May  14,  1948,  Palestine  was  occupied  by  tribes  that adhered 
to  the  Islamic  tradition.  There  was  no  political  territory  for  the  Jews,  and  they  were 
considered  a  stateless  nation.  In  the  19th  century,  a  call  had  been  made  for all Jews living 
in  Europe,  North  Africa,  and  the  Americas  to  return  to  West  Asia.  There,  the  Palestinians 
occupied  the  territory  that  claimed  a  historical  right  for  the  piece  of  land.  The  Jews,  on  the 
other hand, put forward a claim that was based on the Torah.  
 
In  the  19th  century,  Theodore  Herzl,  a  Hungarian  activist,  institutionalized  the  nationalist 
movement  of  Zionism  and  clamored  to  the  political  leaders  of  the  era  to  take  into  serious 
consideration  the  creation  of  the  Israeli  state  in  Palestine.  On  July  3,  1904,  he  died  without 
seeing  the  fruit  of  his  movement—the  creation  of  the  Israeli  state  in  1948.  The  campaign 
encouraged  the  mass  migration  of  Jews  to  Palestine.  This,  in  turn,  resulted  in  internal 
conflicts  with  the  Palestinian  Arabs  who  reside  in  the  area.  The inequality among races and 
opportunity were some of the issues of the movement.  
 

 
Fig. 7. Zionist leader Theodore Herzl 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  11 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
Antisemitism 
In  1879,  German journalist Wilhelm Marr coined the term antisemitism that described the 
prevailing  discrimination  against  the  Semitic  race,  specifically the Jews. This term also refers 
to  a  general  hatred of Jews, which is sometimes described as Jewishphobia. Though the term 
was  introduced  in  the  19th  century,  Jewish  discrimination  was  already  happening  since  the 
Middle  Ages.  During  those  times,  Jews  were  prohibited  from  holding  political  office  and 
citizenship  by  many  monarchies  and  states.  These  led  to  the  creation  of  Jewish  enclaves  in 
Europe.  These  were  divided  further  between  the  European  Jews  and  the  non-Jews.  In 
addition,  Jews  who  engaged  in  commerce  and  business  in  the  12th  century  were  heavily 
discriminated  against.  To  the  point  of  expulsion  to  the  country  unless  they  converted  to 
Christianity.   
 
In  modern  Europe,  anti-Semitism  continued.  In  France,  the 
hatred  for  Jews  intensified  through  the  empowerment  of 
French  nationalism  in  the  17th  century.  Though  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  favored  the  Jews  during  his  reign,  the 
emancipation  of  the  Jews  in  the  Napoleonic  Empire  did not 
last  long.  In  Russia,  anti-Semitism  grew  as many prominent 
Jews  activists  joined  the  Russian  Revolution.  During  the 
world wars, antisemitism was prevalent in Eastern Europe.  
 
The  case  of  Germany's  antisemitism  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  in  modern  history.  Similar  to  the  many  European  states  and  monarchies, 
Medieval  Germany  had  bitter  overtones  with  the  Jews.  Some  who  were  involved  in 
commerce  were  banished  from  society  to  be  biased  toward  the  non-Jew  population. 
Through  Napoleon  Bonaparte's  invasion,  Jews  experienced  emancipation  to  the  German 
culture, and the society became tolerant of the group. After the Napoleonic empire, the Jews 
in  Germany  experienced  discrimination  but  once  again  gained  emancipation  through  the 
German Unification in the late 19th century.  
 
In  the  20th  century,  the  tides turned against the Jews, alongside its neighboring states, after 
the  Germans  revived  its  antisemitic  sentiments,  which  led  to  the  assimilation  of  many  Jews 
into  the  German  society  because  of  Jewish  reforms.  Many  German  political  leaders  were 
 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  12 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
viewing  this  as  a  threat  to  German  nationalism—that  Jews  were  polluting  the  authentic 
culture  of  the  Germans.  It  was  aggravated  with  the  prominence  of  power  of  the  National 
Socialist  German  Workers'  Party,  also  known  as  the  Nazi  Party,  that  Adolf  Hitler 
infamously  led.  The  political  party  clamored  for  racial  purity  among  the  German  state  and 
eventually  to  the  empire,  hence  segregating  non-German  races  of  the  population.  It  had 
been  a  big  blow  to  the  cultural  integration  effort  of  many  reformed  Jews  who  turned  their 
back to the strict adherence of their religious laws.  
 
Holocaust 
The  term  Holocaust  came  from  the  Greek  word  holos  which  means  “whole”  and  kaustos 
which  means  “burnt.”  In  the Torah, the term was mentioned to signify the lamb’s sacrifice to 
please  God.  It  has  a  religious  undertone  that  links  it  to  Judaism.  Still,  the  National  Socialist 
German  Workers’  Party  used  this  term  to  denote  the  political  action  to  exterminate  the 
Jewish  population  that  occupied  Germany  in  the  early  20th  century.  It  was  based  on  the 
political  ideology  of  racial  purity.  Aside  from  the  Jews,  other  races  were  also  sanctioned  in 
this  horrific  extermination  of  life, including the Roma (Gypsies), Blacks, Slavs, Poles, Russian, 
disabled, and homosexuals.  
 

 
Fig. 9. The rail track and concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland  
 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  13 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
Though  there  were  various  ways  to  exterminate  those  in  captivity,  most  of  the  Jewish 
population  expired  through  gas  chambers.  The  largest  concentration  camp  was  located  in 
Auschwitz,  Poland.  Between  1.1  million  to  1.5  million  people  died  in  the  concentration 
camps,  and  90  percent  were  Jews.  Slavery  camps  that  forced  the  prisoners  to  exhausting 
and  deadly  labor  were  also  prominent  in  those  times.  The  program  halted  when  the 
Germans were defeated by the Allied forces in 1945.  

Check Your Progress 


How  can  you  describe  the  Europeans’  relationship  to  the  Jews 
 
during the Medieval Period? 
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________  

 
 

Judaism in the 21st Century 

 
Fig. 10. Israelis and Palestinians still have not reached a final peace agreement 
 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  14 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
The  remnants  of  the  past  can  still  be  seen  in  society  and  are  now  being  shouldered  by 
modern-day  Jews.  In  Israel,  though  they  gained  the  state  in  the  1950s,  the  conflict  with 
Palestine  is  still  ongoing.  Internal  disputes  between  the  Israelis  and  Palestinians  are 
common  in  areas  that  affect  the  expression  of  the  population's  faith.  In  addition,  after 
World  War  II,  anti-Semitism  had  become  a  taboo  in  many  societies,  but  there  are  still 
reported incidences of anti-Semitic acts being reported, especially in Europe.  
 
Another  present-day  issue  of  Judaism  is  secularism.  While  Orthodox  and  Conservative 
Judaism  have  been  very  active  in  preserving  religious  laws,  the  new  generation  of  Jews  has 
been  allured  by  the  secularist  mindset.  Aside  from  that,  a  growing number of younger Jews 
identify  themselves  as  agnostics  or  atheists.  This  phenomenon  can  be  observed  in  Europe, 
Israel, and the Americas, where Judaism is prevalent.  
 
On  the  positive  side,  a  series  of  inter-religious  dialogues  have  been  conducted  to  promote 
regional  peace,  especially  in  Jerusalem  and  the  rest  of  Palestine.  Through  the  help  of  the 
United  Nations  in  the  1950s,  the  Jerusalem  City  government  had  been  successful  in 
partitioning the old city based on the three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  15 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

In Philippine Context 
Beth  Yaacov  is  the  only  synagogue  in  the  Philippines.  It  is  located  in  Makati  City,  and  it 
serves  as  a  home  for  the  Jewish  community  in  the  Philippines.  The  three  major  sects  of 
Judaism  are  allowed  to  use  the  synagogue.  Aside  from  being  a  house  of  worship,  it  also 
hosts  important  religious  events  of  the  Philippine  Jewish community, such as Bat Mitzvah. 
The members of the community also spearhead philanthropic activities.  
 

 
Fig. Inside a typical synagogue 
 
Though  there  are  also existing Jewish communities outside Metro Manila, such as in Cebu, 
Davao,  and  Subic  (Zambales),  Beth  Yaacov  has  become  an  iconic  representation  of 
Judaism in the Philippines.  

 
 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  16 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

Wrap-Up 
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 
● There  are  three  major  sects  in  Judaism,  which  are  Orthodox,  Conservative,  and 
Reform Judaism: 
○ Orthodox  Judaism  refrains  from  assimilation  and  the  influence  of 
secularism to penetrate the Judaic traditions.  
○ Conservative  Judaism  accepts  science  as  a  tool  to  interpret  the  letters  of 
the laws or the Talmud, Halacha, and other important religious books. 
○ Reform  Judaism  accepts  change  as  it  will  help  the religion to stay relevant 
to the ever-changing world.  
● The  three  sects  of  Judaism  accept  the  supremacy  of  the  Torah  but  differ  in  the 
understanding of the role of oral laws and Halacha. 
● Zionism  is  a  nationalist  movement  that  urged  the  Jews  from  all  over  the world to 
go back to Israel. 
● Antisemitism  is  a  view  that  explicitly  showed  hatred  to  any  Jewish  customs, 
traditions, or origins.  
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 

  Try This! 
A. Matching Type. Match the personas in column A with the ideas in column B. 
 

  Column A    Column B 

_____________  1.  Napoleon Bonaparte    a.  German Conservative Jew 

_____________  2.  Samson Raphael Hirsch    b.  French Emperor 

_____________  3.  Moses Sofer    c.  German Orthodox Jew 

_____________  4.  Theodore Herzl    d.  Hungarian Orthodox Jew 

_____________  5.  Zacharias Frankel    e.  Hungarian Zionist Activist 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  17 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
B. Identification. Write the correct answer on the space provided before each number.  
 

________________  1. It was the biggest Polish concentration camp. 

________________  2. It pertains to the collection of oral laws written during the 11th 
and 12th century CE. 

________________  3. The empire that helped the Jews experience emancipation to 
German culture. 

________________  4. A Greek word that means “whole.”  

________________  5. A term used by the Jews to denote a nation selected by God. 

________________  6. The year the State of Israel has been established. 

________________  7. Another term for Conservative Judaism. 

________________  8. A term used to denote where society did not adhere to any 
religion. 

________________  9. The year when the Allied force defeated the German Empire. 

________________  10. A Greek term that means “burnt.” 

 Challenge Yourself 
Essay.  Explain  the  importance  of  the  following  to  the three Judaism sects: oral laws, written 
laws, and changes. 
 
1. Orthodox Judaism 
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  18 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
2. Conservative Judaism 
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

3. Reform Judaism 
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Suggested Rubric for Grading 


The  rubric  below  is  a  suggested  one.  Your  teacher  may  modify  it  based  on  your  needs. 
Consult your teacher for the final rubric.  
 
Performance Levels 

1  2  3  Suggested 
Criteria  Score 
Beginning  Proficient  Advanced  Weight 
Proficiency  Proficiency 

Answers had little  Answers were mostly  Answers were directly 


Completeness   
relation to the  related to the  and completely related  ×3
question. question. to the question.

There were no facts  There were some  There was a variety of 
Analysis   
and details to  facts and details to  facts and details to  ×3
elaborate ideas. elaborate ideas. clearly elaborate ideas.

There were some  There was a minimal  There was no error in 
Spelling and   
spelling and  error in spelling and  spelling and punctuation. ×1
Punctuation 
punctuation errors. punctuation.

Total Possible Score 21  

 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  19 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 

  Reflect on This 
Answer the following question briefly. 
 
What  can be the possible solution to finally end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in West 
Asia? Who has a more rightful claim to the disputed land? 
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  Bibliography 
Burleigh,  Michael.  The  Racial  State:  Germany  1933-1945.  New  York, NY: Cambridge University 
Press, 1991.  
 
Gupta,  Shweta,  and  Thinley  Kalsang  Bhutia.  “Conservative  Judaism.”  Britannica,  2020. 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Conservative-Judaism.  
 
Kehillot, Clear. Shamash Hadash, 2020. http://shamash.org/.  
 
Parks, James W. Antisemitism. London, UK: Valentine, 1963.  
 
Sharot,  Stephen.  “Reform  and  Liberal  Judaism  in  London:  1840-1940.”  Jewish  Social  Studies 
41, no. 3/4 (1979): 211–28. https://doi.org/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4467052.  

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  20 
 
 
Unit 4: Judaism 
 
 
Taylor,  Alan.  “World  War  II:  The  Holocaust.”  The  Atlantic,  October  16,  2011. 
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/world-war-ii-the-holocaust/100170/.  
 
Tesch, Noah. “Zionism.” Britannica, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zionism.  
 
Wistrich, Robert S. Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 1991. 
 
 
 

 
4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism  21 
 

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